Apparatus for separating a bundle of plural sheets

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for separating a bundle of plural sheets of material such as a folded newspaper including an endless conveyor advancing the bundle vertically within a lineal plane. A vertical baffle supporting the newspaper during advancing; a plurality of drive rollers extending through the baffle on either side of said conveyor, so as to engage the folded sides of said newspaper and urge the newspaper downwardly upon the conveyor, and a pointed probe longitudinally aligned with the conveyor at the discharge end of said vertical baffle, so as to engage the leading edge of said bundle at the top and separate said sheets laterally from said vertical plane as they are advanced. The apparatus is particularly adapted to separating a printed newspaper prior to stuffing with inserts such as a TV guide, classified advertising, book review supplements, and the like.

[ 1 Jan. 16,1973

Hart et alt I APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING A BUNDLE OF PLURAL SHEETS [75] Inventors: Charles H. Hart, Nazareth, Pa.;

George R. Cashau, Philipsburg, NJ. [73] Assignee: American Newspaper Publishers Association Research Institute, Incorporated, Easton, Pa.

[22] Filed: Oct. 27, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.: 84,329

[52] US. Cl ..270/57 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65h 5/30 [58] Field of Search ..270/54, 55, 57

[.56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,638,936 2/1970 Han et al. ..270/57 845,837 3/1907 1,616,061 2/1927 3,595,560 7/1971 l-lannon et al. ..270/57 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLlCATlONS 358,444 l/l962 Switzerland ..270/57 Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant ExaminerL. R. Oremland Attorney-:David l-l. Semmes [57] ABSTRACT Apparatus for separating a bundle of plural sheets of material, such as a folded newspaper including an endless conveyor advancing the bundle vertically within a lineal plane. A vertical baffle supporting the newspaper during advancing; a plurality of drive rollers extending through the baffle on either side of said conveyor, so as to engage the folded sides of said newspaper and urge the newspaper downwardly upon the conveyor, and a pointed probe longitudinally aligned with the conveyor at the discharge end of said vertical baffle, so as to engage the leading edge of said bundle at the top and separate said sheets laterally from said vertical plane as they are advanced.

The apparatus is particularly adapted to separating a printed newspaper prior to stuffing with inserts such as a TV guide, classified advertising, book review supplements, and the like.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 16 I975 3.711.084

' sum 1 OF 3 INVENTOIS CHAR H. HA GEOR R. CAS

Jan-$2 M ATTOINEY FIG. 1

PATENTEDJAN 16 I975 SHEET 2 OF 3 INVEHTOIS CHARLESH. HART GEORGE R. CASHALJ F/G. Z

' FIG. 3

ATTOI N BY PATENTEDJAH 16 I975 3.711.084

SHEET 3 0F 3 mvnmo'ns CHARLES H. HART GEORGE R. CASHAU WWI/M ATTOIN EY APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING A BUNDLE OF .PLURAL SHEETS CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS A continuation-in-part of applicants METHOD FOR SEPARATING A BUNDLE OF PLURAL SHEETS (Ser. No. 75,099 filed Sept. '23, 1970 now US. Pat. No. 3,638,936.

BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION .bulk mailing rates has contributed to the popularity of advertising in newspaper by inserts.

In the near future, printed newspapers will be delivered at belt speeds of 70,000 newspapers per hour. Thus, devices for separation and the stuffing of the newspaper are required to be accomplished at thisv speed in order to stay abreast of innovations in the newspaper printing industry. Conventionally, separating is done on a rotary rack, the sides of the papers; being split by a reciprocating pawl or by vacuuming and the stuffing is induced vertically from above.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Fowler and Henkle 1 408,095

Curry and Linn 881,305 Nelson 1,616,061 Hathaway 1,845,412 Livingston, et al. 1,883,307 Snyder 3,052,463.

These references disclose separating the newspapers with mechanical spreaders and vacuum techniques.

Note especially Fowler who teaches the use of spreader rollers 28 (column 3, lines 1 -134 and column 4, lines l-35) as well as a bottom spine 33 to separate the folds.

Curry uses a shaped guide, as well as lateral vacuum conduits for opening his top edges (see FIG. 3).

Nelson (column 2, line uses rollers, V trough and-opener l7.

Hathaway (FIGS. 38 and 40; page 7, lines 81-89) uses a horizontal probe 163.

Livingston uses a horizontal conveyor belt and a V- shaped opener.

Snyder uses a stationary horizontal plane 15, the newspapers being advanced in a horizontal plane.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, the folded newspaper is advanced in a vertical plane, such that its folded mid-section is supported upon an endless belt. The bottom sides adjacent the folded edge are rotatably grabbed by a plurality of rollers rotatably synchronized with the speed of the advancing belt. During this advancing, the leading edge of the advancing newspaper is engaged by a pointed probe which parts the free top and bottom edges of the newspaper from the vertical plane. The free edges are thus separated prior to stuffing. The method is characterized by its continuous-in-line technique, avoiding the necessity for large floor space, and its relative simplicity which avoids the necessity for large capital expenditure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a proposed advancing DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present method of separating a newspaper is schematically illustrated, newspaper 10 being advanced in a vertical plane by means of endless belt '12, then rotatably grabbed at sides adjacent the folded mid-section by rollers 16 and pointedly probed at the leading upper edge by means of adjustable probe 14 (FIG. 3) which separates the folded sheets. I

In FIG. 2, there is shown a fragmentary side elevation of a proposed mechanism for advancing newspaper 10 in a vertical plane, comprising an endless belt 12 mounted upon rollers 108 and 110 (FIG. 5), supported respectively upon shafts 76 and 86. These shafts may be supported in identical brackets 78 88 affixed to table ends 44. Belt 12 is mounted to rotate between adjustable top side members 92 and 90. The newspaper guide baffle 18 includes a substantially vertical portion engaging the bottom part of the paper and a diverging upper portion 56 having an optional horizontal flange 58. Positioning and grabbing rollers 16 extend through cut-outs 20 in the bottom edges of baffle 18 to engage the newspaper sides.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, rollers 16 may be identically constructed, for example, to have a bevel of 10, 4, and 0 on their sides, while being mounted upon shafts 22, secured to universal joints 24, in turn connected to drive shafts 26. Shafts 26 are secured to drive pulleys 28. The driving mechanism for roller 16 is illustrated in FIG. 7, shafts 26 extending through plate 44 to engage drive pulleys 28. Drive belt 34 extends around the pulleys 28 and is tightened by means of pressurizing rollers 30. A motor 40 and pulley arrangement 42, 36, and 37, using belts 38 and 39, may drive'differential 32 to engage drive rollers 28, so as to rotate pulleys 16 synchronously with the speed of belt 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, belt 12 may be driven by motor 84, having drive pulley 86 and drive belt 82, engaging driven pulley attached to shaft 76.

The separating probe 14 is illustrated particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3, as including a teflon or like probing element 14, having a pointed end 58, pivotably supported upon shaft 60. A compression spring 62 may be secured at one end within shaft 60 and engaging knurled nut 64 at its top, so as to vary pressurization in a lateral direction upon the probe. Keyway 68 or the like and lock nut 66 provide for lateral adjustment of the probe in a variety'of directions with respect to the longitudinal axis of belt 12 and according to the bulk of the paper being separated.

Bracket 70 in the shank of the shaft, compression spring 72, and lock nut 74 enable angular adjustment of probe 14 to a variety of angles of attack of the newspaper leading edge.

As will be apparent, the distance of the probe from the end of the newspaper, the height of the probe point with respect to the height of the edge of the newspaper, as well as the lateral angle of the probe with respect to the axis of the advancing paper, and the vertical angle of the probe may be .varied to accommodate different types of paper. Belt 12 speed and rate of rotation positioning rollers 16 may be varied to keep up with the printing press speed. Also, a stuffing baffle 52 having a slightly more divergent top 54 may be anteriorally positioned with respect to the baffle 18, wires, or like mechanism (not illustrated) may extend from the area of the probe 14 to the sides of channel 52, so as to hold the pages open as they are stuffed.

Positioning rollers 16 eliminate jamming on' belt 12 and hold the newspaper down while it is being lineally advanced and during separating. In one construction, the probe 14 is constructed from Nylon round stock 1 V4 inches in diameter, turned to a 60 angle at its probing end and maintained at a 20 upward angle from the horizontal for penetration of the advancing newspaper.

The rollers 16 are laterally adjustable to accommodate for differentthicknesses of paper and under controlled spring tension by adjustable tension springs 100, 102, and 104 on shafts 95, 96, and 98.

Manifestly, the baffle, belt, rollers, and probe may be varied without departing from the invention.

We claim:

1. Apparatusfor separating folded newspapers having a plurality ofsheets comprising:

A. a lineal conveyor including an endless driven conveyor adapted to support the folded mid-section of the newspaper;

B. an open top vertical baffle having perforated sides laterallyconfining and supporting said sheets in a vertical plane for movement along said lineal conveyor;

C. a plurality of driven roller elements, supported on substantially vertical axes, operably longitudinally spaced on both exterior sides of said baffle, extending through the side perforations and in rotatable grabbing engagement with the bottom side edges of the vertically positioned sheets above said lineal conveyor, said roller elements includi. angularly disposed sheet engaging side face portions chamfered substantially 10 at top, 4 at mid-section, and 0 at bottom and inclined at angles to the horizontal and vertical so as to engage and advance the bottom edges of the sheet sides while applying downward pressure thereon toward said lineal conveyor;

synchronously with the speed of saidconveyor, and

E. a pointed nose probe vertically spaced from said conveyor intermediate said baffle sides positioned at an upwar angle jacent to tops of said sheets for inwardly probing and engaging the top free leading edges of the folded newspaper and simultaneously applying'a downward force on the sheets so as to separate the sheets during advancing, said probe being laterally and vertically pivotable, and variably adjustable in height with respect to an advancing newspaper.

2. An apparatus'for separating a folded newspaper, having a plurality of sheets as in claim 1, the roller bottom from its central axis to the bottom side edgev being chamfered 8.

3. Apparatus for separating folded newspapers hav- I ing a plurality of sheets comprising:

A. a lineal conveyor including an endless driven conveyor adapted to support the folded mid-section of the newspaper; I

B. an open top baffle having sides laterally confining and supporting said sheets in a vertical plane for movement along said lineal conveyor;

C. a plurality of driven roller elements operably longitudinally spaced along said baffle and in rotatable grabbing engagement with the bottom side edges of the vertically positioned sheets above said lineal conveyor, said roller elements including:

i. angularly disposed sheet engaging face portions so inclined at angles to the horizontaland vertical as to engage and advance the bottom edges of the sheet sides while applying a downward pressure thereon toward said lineal conveyor; roller drive means for rotating said rollers synchronously with the speed of said conveyor, E. a pointed nose probe vertically spaced from said conveyor intermediate said baffle sides positioned at an upward anglefrom the horizontal and'adjacent to tops of said sheets for inwardly probing and engaging the top free leading edges of the folded newspaper and simultaneously applying a downward force on the sheets so as to separate the sheets'during advancing, said probe being laterally and vertically pivotable, and variable adjustable in height with respect to an advancing newspaper; and

said baffle having two vertical sides adjusted to the width of said folded newspaper sheets and aligned longitudinally with said probe, the lower edges of said sides being perforated so as to admit said.

roller elements, the top edges of said vertical sides being outwardly inclined to free the top edges of said advancing newspaper.

roller drive means for rotating said rollers from the horizontal and ad- 7 

1. Apparatus for separating folded newspapers having a plurality of sheets comprising: A. a lineal conveyor including an endless driven conveyor adapted to support the folded mid-section of the newspaper; B. an open top vertical baffle having perforated sides laterally confining and supporting said sheets in a vertical plane for movement along said lineal conveyor; C. a plurality of driven roller elements, supported on substantially vertical axes, operably longitudinally spaced on both exterior sides of said baffle, extending through the side perforations and in rotatable grabbing engagement with the bottom side edges of the vertically positioned sheets above said lineal conveyor, said roller elements including: i. angularly disposed sheet engaging side face portions chamfered substantially 10* at top, 4* at mid-section, and 0* at bottom and inclined at angles to the horizontal and vertical so as to engage and advance the bottom edges of the sheet sides while applying downward pressure thereon toward said lineal conveyor; D. roller drive means for rotating said rollers synchronously with the speed of said conveyor; and E. a pointed nose probe vertically spaced from said conveyor intermediate said baffle sides positioned at an upward angle from the horizontal and adjacent to tops of said sheets for inwardly probing and engaging the top free leading edges of the folded newspaper and simultaneously applying a downward force on the sheets so as to separate the sheets during advancing, said probe being laterally and vertically pivotable, and variably adjustable in height with respect to an advancing newspaper.
 2. An apparatus for separating a folded newspaper, having a plurality of sheets as in claim 1, the roller bottom from its central axis to the bottom side edge being chamfered 8* .
 3. Apparatus for separating folded newspapers having a plurality of sheets comprising: A. a lineal conveyor including an endless driven conveyor adapted to support the folded mid-section of the newspaper; B. an open top baffle having sides laterally confining and supporting said sheets in a vertical plane for movement along said lineal conveyor; C. a plurality of driven roller elements operably longitudinally spaced along said baffle and in rotatable grabbing engagement with the bottom side edges of the vertically positioned sheets above said lineal conveyor, said roller elements including: i. angularly disposed sheet engaging face portions so inclined at angles to the horizontal and vertical as to engage and advance the bottom edgEs of the sheet sides while applying a downward pressure thereon toward said lineal conveyor; D. roller drive means for rotating said rollers synchronously with the speed of said conveyor; E. a pointed nose probe vertically spaced from said conveyor intermediate said baffle sides positioned at an upward angle from the horizontal and adjacent to tops of said sheets for inwardly probing and engaging the top free leading edges of the folded newspaper and simultaneously applying a downward force on the sheets so as to separate the sheets during advancing, said probe being laterally and vertically pivotable, and variable adjustable in height with respect to an advancing newspaper; and F. said baffle having two vertical sides adjusted to the width of said folded newspaper sheets and aligned longitudinally with said probe, the lower edges of said sides being perforated so as to admit said roller elements, the top edges of said vertical sides being outwardly inclined to free the top edges of said advancing newspaper. 